Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma discusses his nearly 300-year-old cello, affectionately named "Petunia," during a May 2024 interview, highlighting the deep connection and sense of 'touching infinity' he experiences through his music.
Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma reflects on his nearly 300-year-old cello named Petunia, a name given by a high school student 25 years ago. Ma, who began learning Bach's Cello Suites at age 4, has recorded them three times over his career, likening each performance to the ever-changing flow of a river. He emphasizes the importance of being a human first, musician second, and cellist third, a philosophy inspired by Spanish cellist Pablo Casals. Ma has played for nine U.S. presidents, won 19 Grammys, and recently performed at a memorial for aid workers killed in Gaza.